a Buffet and a Box

I've been chasing down a buffet to paint for a few months now...

as usual, one turned up right down the street

(the best stuff always turns up close to home!)

Great bones, GORGEOUS wood on the drawers ad doors...

The top?  Not so much.

I used AHaH One Step Paint in Luxe Grey

with clear wax and Dust of Ages

Not a bit of distressing, yet it still looks wonderfully aged

Dust of Ages adds SO MUCH character and patina

I restored the drawers and doors

(I decoupaged inside the top drawer with antique sheet music 

but forgot to get a pic!)

The original hardware wears a distressed gold leaf finish

No, it was NOT fun painting that trim on the doors...

If I never have to do that again, it will be just fine with me!

I had the supplies out to decoupage,

so I decided to do a little experiment on a plain wood box

This was a fun project, and SO EASY!

I mixed 50% Elmers glue with 50% water

and applied to the box

then smoothed on the sheet music I had already cut to size

I then brushed the glue mixture over the top to seal and let it all dry

(about 30 minutes)

Next, the fun part...

I sanded the heck out of with a medium grit sanding block,

followed by clear wax mixed with Dust of Ages to create a weathered wax

the finish looks old and worn but feels like silk...

I forsee this treatment on something larger in the future!

These items can be found at 607 VINTAGE MARKETPLACE 

Thanks for stopping by!

Michele~

Dust of Ages

Being at the shop all day, nearly every day

is making me VERY productive...

Of course, the fact that I'm leaving my laptop at home

MIGHT have something to do with it, too!

In any case, I'm really enjoying 

playing around with all the new products

we're carrying

It's rejuvenating, in a way,

testing out all these new goodies!

I'd become so used to one product...

I know it inside out and upside down

Certainly time to mix it up!

We've had Dust of Ages for awhile,

ever since we first tried Amy Howard's products

The colors we ordered were mid-tones,

and the Dust didn't really show up too well 

I put it aside, and forget all about it

Until today. 

I was working on the chair you see in the background

I love the soft, cool tones

(Credenza from AHH and Fluff from Dixie Belle)

Not wanting to alter the color too much

nor warm it up with dark wax

I decided to give Dust of Ages another go

LOVE.

The subtle shadow of age...

 adding contrast and patina without too much warmth...

Perfectly highlighting all the yummy details!

I loved it so much, I went a little crazy

 A light application...applied with a small brush only in the recesses 

and a heavier application, applied with a giant brush all over

The pieces all turned out GORGEOUS...

have a look!

I'll share before and afters on these two chairs tomorrow...

and I promise, I'll get a picture of that awesome shelf

that you can only see a preview of above!

Thanks for stopping by!

Michele

Art is subjective, yes?

We purchased some LOVELY pieces from an Estate this weekend...

the inhabitants were enamoured of all things French

Every room was full of French Provincial furnishings

and other lovelies

As you can imagine, I was having a hard time focusing...

who wouldn't?  

We worked out a deal on several pieces

and we were loading up the truck when Kenny said

"I'm surprised you don't want that painting of Paris"

UM...WHAT PAINTING OF PARIS?

This one:

Oh, I wanted it!  I just hadn't seen it...

I was too focused on furniture!

It's HUGE (at least 5ft wide)

After I bought it, I asked about it's history

Turns out, the owners parents had purchased the oil painted canvas

(minus a frame)

from a street artist when they were in Paris in the 1960's

Don't you LOVE that??  

Here are some details:

I just love the moody grey tones

and the watery, soft vibe of the painting

I have no idea if it has any value beyond aesthetic, 

but who cares, really...

I ADORE IT 

and I think I'm keeping it!  

(with a much cooler frame, of course!)

Not to be outdone,

Kenny came home with some original artwork of his own...

BEHOLD:

Now, before you say "oh Michele, it's not THAT bad"

allow me to point out...that is a CORD dangling down in the first photo

Yes, this picture LIGHTS UP

Yes, that is textured paint, too.

It's so kitschy, it's almost cool

ALMOST

And it is technically an original oil painting...

we can pretend the couple purchased it when they were in Venice

(but somehow I doubt it!)

Michele